According to Android Authority, code within leaked firmware for the upcoming One UI 8.5 update reveals Samsung is working on a new file summary feature for its My Files app. The feature would automatically generate short summaries for PDF and text files, displaying them directly in the file browser view to help users identify the correct document. The code strings suggest there will be a user toggle to opt-in, and the system will not summarize files it suspects contain inappropriate content. While not part of the initial leaked changelog, this feature could appear in the One UI 8.5 beta program, which rumors suggest may start as soon as next week. The exact method for generating these summaries—whether via on-device AI or cloud processing—remains unclear, as does any potential limit on file sizes.
The convenience factor
Look, we’ve all been there. You’ve got a folder full of PDFs with names like “report_final_v2_edited_new.pdf” and no clue what’s inside. This feature, if it works well, could be a genuine time-saver. Instead of the tedious open-scan-close dance, you’d get a quick glance at the content right there in your file manager. It’s one of those small quality-of-life improvements that can actually make a difference in your daily phone use. And the opt-in toggle is smart—not everyone will want their device peeking into their files, even for a helpful summary.
The big AI question
Here’s the thing, though. The report doesn’t explicitly mention AI, but let’s be real—what else is going to summarize a document? The real technical mystery is where the processing happens. On-device AI would be faster and more private, but it would also chew through battery and require serious hardware chops, potentially limiting it to newer, flagship phones. Cloud processing is more flexible and could handle massive files, but then you’re sending your documents to Samsung‘s servers. That’s a privacy trade-off some folks just won’t make. I’m really curious to see which path Samsung chooses, or if they’ll offer a hybrid approach.
Context and competition
This move isn’t happening in a vacuum. We’re seeing a massive push for on-device AI across the industry, with Google and Apple baking similar smarts into their operating systems. Samsung’s playing catch-up in some areas, but integrating this directly into the core file manager is a clever, system-level play. It makes the phone feel smarter without needing a separate app. But the devil’s in the details, right? Will the summaries be useful, or just generic nonsense? And what counts as “inappropriate content”? Those filters can be notoriously clumsy. We’ll need to see the beta to judge.
Wait and see mode
So, should you be excited? Cautiously, maybe. Leaked code is a promise, not a product. The beta, if it kicks off next week, will tell us everything. We’ll see if the feature is stable, how well it works, and most importantly, how Samsung handles the privacy and performance implications. It’s a useful idea on paper. Now Samsung has to make it work in the real world, where our files are messy and our patience is short. Let’s see what they’ve built.
